Piano chords · Sus2 chord
B♭sus2 piano chord (B♭ suspended second)
B♭sus2 (also written A♯sus2) is a suspended second chord with 3 notes. It sounds open and airy, neither major nor minor. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
B♭ – C – F · tap any key to hear it
The notes of B♭sus2
B♭sus2 is built from 3 notes (1 – 2 – 5):
- B♭, the root
- C, the second
- F, the fifth
B♭ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on B♭, 2 on C, 5 on F.
- Left hand: 5 on B♭, 4 on C, 1 on F.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | B♭ – C – F |
| 1st inversion | C – F – B♭ |
| 2nd inversion | F – B♭ – C |
Where B♭sus2 belongs
A sus chord is neither major nor minor: the second takes the place of the third. It usually resolves, with the second moving to the third, to B♭ or B♭m.
B♭sus2 is B♭ with its third (D) replaced by the second, C.
Hear it in a progression
B♭sus2 – B♭ – B♭sus2 – B♭: B♭sus2 resolving to B♭ and back: the classic suspension.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the B♭sus2 chord?
B♭sus2 (B♭ suspended second) is made of B♭, C and F: the root, second and fifth.
How do you play B♭sus2 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on B♭, 2 on C, 5 on F, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on B♭, 4 on C, 1 on F.
How is B♭sus2 different from the plain chord?
B♭sus2 is B♭ with its third (D) replaced by the second, C.